Apricots for breakfast?

[Snadger]

Bought an Apricot tree today at Lidl. Haven't got a clue what I am going to do with it, all I know is I love Apricots for breakfast!!!

Hopefully this is where you knowledgeable grapes come in and tell me how easy they are to grow!!

[Nicos]

No idea - but they are high in calcium !

[Hazel at the Hill]

I've seen an article about apricots by Bob Flowerdew somewhere fairly recently, and from what I remember, the only problems are protecting the flowers from frost - I think that he suggested growing it agaisnst a nice warm house wall and having the ability to cover it over on cold nights.

Can't remember anything about the soil.

Oh - he said that they could be pot grown - so could be good for a conservatory/polytunner?

[mazel-bee]

Hello Snadger. I am off to town at the weekend, what else have they got and how much was the apricot tree if you don't mind me asking?
I find garden centres well over priced.

[mazel-bee]

Doh. I was working from top to bottom on the site and Sue has posted a useful price list further down the forum !!

[Snadger]

Doh. I was working from top to bottom on the site and Sue has posted a useful price list further down the forum !!

Our Lidl branch had? , now lets see if I can remember:-

Elstar apple
Cox's apple
Bramley apple
Golden Deicious
A an other apple

Com de ? pears
Conference pears (I bought one!)


Cherry

Apricot (I bought one)

No plum trees!

All at £3.99 each!

Hope you find what you're after!

[mazel-bee]

I'm keen to grow victoria plums.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I found a lidl leaflet today with victoria plums in it as well as an easy seed distributor which looked completely ridiculous!! I'm hoping to pick up a plum tree although whenever I plan to get something it is usually the only thing they don't have .

[Snadger]

I'm keen to grow victoria plums.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I found a lidl leaflet today with victoria plums in it as well as an easy seed distributor which looked completely ridiculous!! I'm hoping to pick up a plum tree although whenever I plan to get something it is usually the only thing they don't have .

Got a Victoria plum from Homebase a month ago! Good luck at Lidl!

[mazel-bee]

Snadger, Do I need a pollinating buddy with a victoria plum?

[Snadger]

No idea - but they are high in calcium !

Thats probably why they require an alkaline soil! Lime in soil also helps the kernal to set I believe!

Been doing a bit of online research and have found that the Apricot is perfectly hardy, in fact it needs a cold spell (bit like garlic) to set fruit!

The only problem time is when it flowers as the flowers must be protected from the frost.

Grown in a pot it will spend most of it's life outdoors, only being brought into a cold greenhouse when it flowers. Not critical the first few seasons as I aint expecting fruit til it's third year!

[smallblueplanet]

Hi Snadger, I quite fancy trying to grow an apricot tree as I really like fresh apricots (hate dried ones!). What size pot could you grow an apricot in/ how big do they get? Is it any ol' variety of apricot? When do they flower then?

[Jardiniere]

Am growing an apricot against a west facing wall - gets sun from late morning through to when the sun sets behind the cliffs - its a Polonais - planted in November.
Never grown one before but peaches grow here Ok so am hopeful (have no peaches - nowhere cleared to put them yet - but they are on the list)

[Snadger]

Snadger, Do I need a pollinating buddy with a victoria plum?

Self pollinating according to blurb!